Administrative Provisions of the People's Republic of China on Certificate of Origin for Export Goods

(Promulgated by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on March 8, 1996)

The Certificate of Origin for Export Goods of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Certificate of Origin) is a certification document which certifies that the export goods are originally from the People's Republic of China. In compliance with the Rules of the Place of Origin for Export Goods of the People's Republic of China and the Provisions for the Implementation of the said Rules and the Provisions for the Issuance of the Certificate of Origin for Export Goods of the People's Republic of China (Trial Implementation) and to strengthen the administration of the Certificate of Origin, the provisions are formulated as follows:

Article 1 In Supporting the Implementation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Project, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) will apply the recommended standard form of the Certificate of Origin formulated by the State Technology Supervision Administration on July 1, 1996, so as to standardize and regulate the administration, subscription, printing, transportation, storage, issuance, calculation and examination of the Certificate of Origin, minimizing and voiding the occurrence of forged and false certificates.

The transitional period ranges from July 1 to September 30, 1996. During the period, the former certificate jointly printed by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the State Administration for the Inspection of Import and Export Commodities and the late standard certificate may still be used alternately. Starting from October 1, 1996 only standard form may be used and the former certificate jointly printed by CCPIT and the State Administration for the Inspection of Import and Export Commodities shall be abolished.

The new standard form of the Certificate of Origin shall bear uniform serial number.

Article 2 Entrusted by MOFTEC, the Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission is responsible for printing, subscription and distribution of the certificate of origin nationwide. Any other agencies and individuals are not allowed to print and imitate the said certificate.

Article 3 Subscription for the certificate of origin shall be arranged twice a year. May 20-30 shall be the first subscription time and September 20-30 the second. The certificate-issuing agencies (not including sub-agencies) of CCPIT and the commodity inspection departments must respectively inform the Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic cooperation Commission the number of certificates required for the second semester and the first semester next year. The Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission shall arrange printing according to the subscription quantity.

The Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission must mail the certificates in accordance with the subscription quantity to the certificate-issuing agencies by the end of June and November respectively. The certificate-issuing agencies are themselves responsible for forwarding the certificates to their sub-agencies on time.

Article 4 While mailing the certificates, the Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission shall notify the certificate-issuing agencies the starting and ending serial number of the certificate of origin. After receiving the certificates, the certificate-issuing agencies must immediately verify the serial number according to the notification from the Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission. In case there is any error, a notification with detailed description must be made to the Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission within 7 days. The Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission shall response to the relevant certificates-issuing agencies with confirmation of whether there exists error after examination and check.

After receiving the certificates of origin, the certificate-issuing agencies shall fill in the Receipt Sheet for Certificate of Origin in duplicate and on copy of the sheets shall be returned to the Shanghai Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission within 10 days.

Article 5 The certificate-issuing agencies are responsible for issuing certificate of origin to export enterprises and a system of special administration with special personnel and registration of issuing shall be carried out. The record for numbered registration of issuing certificate shall be reserved for at least 3 years.

Article 6 Relevant export enterprises are requested to carry out a system of special administration with special personnel and registration of certificate use. The record for registration of using shall be reserved for at least 3 years.

Article 7 The certificate-issuing agencies shall at any time accept the examination of the administration of certificate of origin conducted by MOFTEC or MOFTEC together with CCPIT and the State Administration for the Inspection of Import and Export Commodities.

Article 8 Any one who violates the Present Provisions shall be punished by the relevant provisions of the Rules of the Place of Origin for Export Goods of the People's Republic of china and the Provisions for the Implementation of the said Rules and the Provisions for the Issuance of the Certificate of Origin for Export Goods of the People's Republic of China (Trial Implementation). Those who violate the law shall be punished by the law.

Article 9 The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall be responsible for the interpretation of the present Provisions.